In a herculean feat, Tomorrowland’s staff built a substitute Mainstage quickly enough to avoid schedule changes after a devastating fire.
Even people far outside the orbit of the EDM landscape stopped and paid attention when news broke that a fire destroyed the Tomorrowland Mainstage on Wednesday. And with the weight of the world on their shoulders, the Boom, Belgium festival’s organizers managed to build a replacement structure in roughly 24 hours, finishing the job in time for gates to open today.
Is it a one-for-one match to the original “Orbyz” stage? Of course not, but it’s an unbelievable feat all the same. The stand-in Mainstage was built from production elements stored in Austria after being used in Metallica‘s WorldWired Tour. A Belgian company called Stageco purpose built them to be set up in a short time as they’re part of the heavy metal band’s touring rig.
“Dear People of Tomorrow, WE ARE READY FOR YOU!” reads a statement shared on the Tomorrowland website. “Our teams are working day and night, with heart and soul, to turn the impossible into reality: Tomorrowland Belgium 2025 will open doors at 14:00.”
The statement continues: “An alternative setup for the beloved Mainstage is planned to open at 16:00, pending any last-minute changes. All artists will perform as scheduled on all other stages as from 14:00.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Roughly 1,000 staff members were evacuated from the festival grounds on Wednesday, as were some locals from their homes, while all others were advised to close their windows and doors.
Are you attending Tomorrowland this weekend? If so, read our essential info guide for set times, travel recommendations, and more. If not, live vicariously through those fortunate enough to be there by tuning into the event’s official livestreams.